A total of 105 metric tons of ivory and 1.3 tons of rhino horns were burned on Saturday. Photo by Hou Liqiang/China Daily

"This vice must come to an end and our elephants protected," he said. "I know there are some who say Kenya should put its stockpile into the market and use the proceeds in development. I want to say that we have made our stand that ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants. Let the future generation judge us," he said amidst applause from Gabon's president Ali Bongo, John Scanlon, the Secretary General of CITES, Marie-Ségolène Royal, French minister of environment and president of Convention of Parties (COP) 21, among other dignitaries.

In his letter to Kenyatta, President Xi Jinping said China appreciates Kenya's effort in wildlife conservation and will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the international community, including Kenya, in wildlife conservation in Africa.